Dentures – Collegeville, PA
Trusted Prosthetics for a More Beautiful Smile
At The Dental Spot, Dr. Plasha and our team understand the difficulties that come with tooth loss. Eating, speaking, and just living life can prove troublesome and even embarrassing, especially when surrounded by family or friends. Fortunately, there is a solution that offers renewed confidence and a natural, beautiful aesthetic – dentures in Collegeville. These tried-and-true solutions have been around for centuries, and because of advancements in dentistry, they are now more reliable and stable than ever before. If you are looking to restore your smile with the help of dentures, contact us today to schedule an appointment.
Why Choose The Dental Spot for Dentures?
- High-Quality Materials Used to Ensure Natural Aesthetics
- Trusted Professional with Years of Clinical Experience
- Dental Insurance Accepted and Financing Available
Who’s a Good Candidate for Dentures?
If you are suffering from tooth loss, we want to help. Your inability to eat your favorite foods, difficulty speaking clearly, and embarrassment when forced to socialize with others can take their toll on your mental and emotional health. The good news is that these feelings do not have to be permanent. Instead, you can opt for dentures and live life to the fullest. Read on to learn what makes one a good candidate for dentures.
Effects of Missing Teeth
Tooth loss can occur for several reasons, the most common being tooth decay, gum disease, and physical trauma. Without treating these complications ahead of time, the result could be that you end up missing some or all of your teeth. Not only can you have gaps in your smile, but the lack of tooth roots in the jawbone can cause it to weaken and deteriorate, which increases the chance of further tooth loss as well as other oral health issues, including difficulty chewing and speaking, facial sagging, and significantly reduced self-esteem.
What Qualifies You for Dentures?
If you have some or all of your pearly whites missing, then dentures may be a perfect option for renewing your bite. This treatment has been used for decades to help people regain their ability to chew, talk, and smile comfortably and confidently. Due to the newest technology and techniques in dentistry, these custom prosthetics have only gotten better and more lifelike.
The number of teeth that you’ve lost will typically determine the kind of denture you’ll receive. This can mean that we’ll provide you with partial, full, or even implant dentures. Additionally, these prosthetics are one of the most cost-effective methods for rebuilding a smile, meaning you can easily work them into your budget.
During your initial consultation, Dr. Plasha will examine your oral cavity to determine the extent of your tooth loss. If most or all your teeth are missing from the top or bottom arch and you possess healthy gum tissue, you will likely be eligible to receive dentures. If you are only missing a few teeth, however, you might consider an alternative option.
Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options
Our team will help determine if dentures are a good fit for you, but if they aren’t, it doesn’t mean that you’ll be out of options. We’ll be sure to walk you through alternative solutions for rebuilding your smile, such as:
- Dental Bridges: This treatment is typically reserved for patients who are missing one or a few teeth in a row. The dental bridge generally consists of two dental crowns that are supported by adjacent healthy teeth on either side of the gap and connected via pontics (artificial teeth) to close the space.
- Dental Implants: Instead of using your gums or healthy teeth, we can embed titanium posts into your jawbone to offer optimal stability and structure for your future crown, bridge, or denture. While this has a higher upfront cost, the results are much more natural-feeling and can last decades to the rest of your life with proper maintenance.
How Dentures are Made
Dentures need to be customized so that they fit comfortably in your specific mouth. The process of making dentures according to the patient’s needs can take a few weeks. What exactly happens during this time? You can learn more about what the process of making dentures will look like below; we have provided a brief look at the materials that may be used to make your new teeth as well as the various steps involved in creating them.
What are Dentures Made Of?
There are two major parts of your dentures: the base and the replacement teeth. The material for both of these components needs to be considered carefully.
- For the base, acrylic is typically used thanks to its ability to blend in with your gums. That said, it is not unheard of for the denture base to be made out of nylon instead. Additionally, if you are getting partial dentures, the base will still be made out of acrylic, but there might also be metal clips for keeping it anchored in place.
- For the artificial teeth, the material of choice is typically porcelain. Not only can it easily stand up to the forces of biting and chewing, but it can closely match the appearance of your natural teeth, giving you a very lifelike new smile.
The Denture Creation Process
Before anything else, our team will take a look at your mouth and go over your options for tooth replacement. If dentures seem like they’re the best option for rebuilding your grin, the following steps will be taken to create your prosthesis:
- A model of your mouth will be created by taking impressions of your upper and lower gums. The model will be used to determine the right shape and size for your dentures.
- A dental laboratory will receive the model created in the previous step. Using said model for reference, the technicians will make a replica of your gums out of wax.
- Artificial teeth will be inserted into the wax. After making the necessary adjustments, the wax dentures will be sent to our practice.
- We will schedule another appointment with you to make sure that the wax dentures fit properly. Once we have confirmed that they do, we will return them to the lab.
- The dentures will be placed into a special flask, which will have plaster poured into it. The flask will be exposed to hot water; this will cause the wax to melt while the plaster ensures that your dentures don’t lose their shape.
- The now-removed wax portions will be replaced with acrylic, which will act as the new base for the dentures. The prosthesis will be taken out of the flask; leftover plaster will be removed with an ultrasonic bath.
- Once the dentures are ready, they will be sent to our office one last time. We’ll schedule your final appointment so that you can receive your new teeth.
Adjusting to Your New Dentures
When you first get your new dentures, you may experience some initial discomfort. It might be easier to only eat soft foods during this time. As long as you make a point of wearing your dentures regularly, your mouth will eventually get used to the presence of your prosthesis.
The Benefits of Dentures
Tooth loss is a hard condition to bear, especially when it’s left unchecked. The problem makes vital everyday tasks - eating, speaking, smiling, etc. – very difficult. However, dentures let you overcome this issue. They can restore your grin and improve your quality of life. Our office will even give you the specific details. To that end, please keep reading to learn the benefits of dentures or attend a consultation visit at our office.
Psychological Benefits
Losing your teeth wears down your mood in most cases. After all, knowing you have notable smile gaps can make you feel anxious and insecure. It’d be easy to withdraw from your social life as a result. Should that happen, you’d likely suffer sadness or depression.
Of course, dentures would ensure your feelings remain stable. They’d quickly “fill” your grin’s gaps and boost your confidence. From there, you’d feel much more confident, calm, and self-assured. Things like your looks, eating ability, and speech won’t have to worry you.
Clearer Enunciation
As you may know, it’s just not possible to speak well without teeth. Your tongue needs them all to enunciate words properly. Given these facts, just losing a few can cause speech impediments. Some of the most typical ones you could face are lisps and slurred words.
Thankfully, dentures solve this issue. Their artificial teeth can support your tongue as well as natural ones. So, they’ll let you form words as you did before. You just need to undergo an adjustment period first. That way, you can practice speaking with dentures.
Improves Nutrition
If you go without a full smile, you’ll end up with a poor diet. Losing teeth means you can’t chew your meals as well. You may be forced to give up healthy but tough foods to compensate. If that happens, you’ll be at a much higher risk of malnutrition and indigestion.
Despite the above, dentures offer a solution. Their artificial teeth would let you chew all sorts of foods. By doing so, they’d expand your dietary choices and boost your nutritional health.
Preserves Oral Health
Tooth loss harms more than your good looks; it also damages your oral health. You see, “smile gaps” are breeding grounds for harmful bacteria. Leaving them alone would make you likely to suffer tooth decay and gum disease. Worse yet, the same gaps could tilt your other teeth until they fall out.
All that said, dentures help you avoid such outcomes. They’d reduce the spread of bad bacteria by “filling in” your smile’s gaps. Similarly, they help keep your other teeth from tilting.
Expands Opportunities
Indeed, a pretty smile is vital to good first impressions. Showing off white and gleaming teeth will make others think better of you. Your peers will then want to share life-changing opportunities with you. That means your gorgeous would (indirectly) lead to things like deeper friendships, great dates, better-paying work, etc.
As it happens, dentures both restore and beautify your smile. Wearing them wearing them “fills out” your grin and makes it stunning. For that reason, they’d help you forge great social connections. These relationships would then lead to many positive life changes.
Understanding the Cost of Dentures
If you have missing teeth, you know from experience how much it can affect your overall quality of life. Fortunately, dentures in Collegeville allow you to enjoy a strong and healthy smile once again. Before moving forward with the process, you likely want to know how much it’ll cost. Since every case is unique, it’s impossible to provide an accurate price estimate until you come in for a consultation. Rest assured – our team will thoroughly explain the pricing information to ensure you know what to expect every step of the way.
Factors that Affect the Cost of Dentures
Many factors influence the overall cost of dentures in Collegeville. Three major ones are:
- Any preliminary treatment needed beforehand (i.e., tooth extractions, gum disease therapy, etc.)
- Number of teeth you’re missing
- Materials your denture will be made of (i.e., porcelain or acrylic)
Patients on a budget may be tempted to opt for a cheaper denture. However, that’s not necessarily ideal. Affordable prosthetics tend to break easily and will require a replacement much sooner than anticipated. When it comes to dentistry, it’s always best to invest in high-quality work and get your money’s worth!
Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?
Since implant dentures require oral surgery and the placement of multiple dental implants, they’re typically more expensive than traditional dentures. Of course, many people find them to be worth the investment. Because of their unique placement inside the jawbone, implant dentures are far more reliable for day-to-day use. They stay firmly in place and will help stimulate the jawbone, providing you with increased biting strength and longevity. Another significant benefit is that implant dentures can last decades without needing replacement, unlike traditional ones.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?
You’ll be happy to know that most dental insurance plans do offer coverage for dentures in Collegeville. They’re considered a major procedure, which is why they’re eligible for up to 50% of coverage. Of course, every policy is unique, meaning the exact percentage can vary from person to person. Make sure you confirm the details of your benefits with your insurance provider before committing to anything.
Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable
Don’t have dental insurance? We offer additional financing options to help make your treatment as affordable as possible! Some of those include:
- In-House Membership Plan – For an annual fee, you can get the preventive care you need and enjoy sizeable discounts on other treatments. You’re able to have the benefits of traditional insurance without the red tape!
- CareCredit Financing – This option allows you to split up the total cost of your treatment into smaller monthly installments. Best of all, most plans come with little-to-no interest attached!
Dentures FAQs
When learning if you are eligible to receive dentures in Collegeville, there is a good chance you have many questions about the process. At The Dental Spot, Dr. Plasha and our team want you to feel confident and comfortable in your decision to choose this tried-and-true restorative solution. Dentures have been around for centuries helping people achieve new and improved smiles, but we understand you may want clarification about certain aspects of treatment so you can make the right decision for your dental health. Below you will find a list of questions to review. If you need additional assistance or would like to meet with Dr. Plasha to discuss your concerns, contact us to schedule an appointment.
How long will you have to wait to get dentures after your teeth are pulled?
On average, it is recommended that you wait at least 6-8 weeks to receive your customized denture after having your teeth removed. The reason for this is to let your gums fully heal. It also helps to ensure that your denture will fit properly when put into place. While it is possible to receive immediate dentures the same day of your extraction, there is the chance that your gums and bone will change over time, causing your new teeth to fit poorly as your mouth begins to heal. If implant dentures are what you are waiting to receive, you will need to spend 4-6 months healing at home to allow your implants to fuse with your bone and surrounding tissues before receiving your final restoration.
Can I sleep with my dentures?
Although it is possible to keep your dentures in while sleeping, it is strongly discouraged and here’s why: Dentures sit on top of the gums and can cause restriction. Over time, your soft oral tissues can become irritated, resulting in oral sores, discomfort, and ridge resorption. By removing your dentures at night, you are giving your gums and bone a chance to breathe and recover. Not to mention, they retrieve the nutrients needed throughout the night.
Bacteria can also gather underneath your denture, so if you are continuing to sleep with them, you are putting yourself at greater risk for pneumonia. You may also be less likely to perform a regular dental hygiene routine if you do not take out your dentures before bed, resulting in increasing oral health problems over time.
Will it hurt to get dentures?
It is not uncommon to experience some slight discomfort in the days after receiving your dentures. Because they are a foreign object in your mouth, your tongue, jaw, bone, and remaining teeth will need to adjust. This can take time and cause some minor irritation to occur. Fortunately, this should only be temporary, but each person can experience a different level of discomfort, so it’s important not to base your situation on another individual. New dentures can often require more of an adjustment period, but if the pain you’re experiencing lasts too long, it’s best to call our office. Your denture dentist in Collegeville can examine your denture and oral cavity to determine if your prosthetic is fitting properly or if you need treatment for an underlying issue.
What can’t you eat with dentures?
Although you will regain some of your original bite force, eating with dentures will require making a few changes. It’s best to stay away from sticky foods like caramel, peanut butter, and gummy candies because they can pull your dentures out of place, resulting in food particles becoming trapped beneath your denture and causing irritation. You’ll also need to avoid nuts, popcorn, carrot sticks, apples, and other hard foods because they can damage your new teeth. It’s also advised that you avoid:
- Tough meats
- Popcorn kernels
- Shelled nuts
- Sesame seeds
- Other small foods that can become stuck in and around your dentures and cause damage